Prior to its independence in 1832, Greece was not a common destination for tourists; its popularity began an upward swing in the late 50s, reaching its apex in 2000 (13 million tourists, nearly twice the country’s population). Today tourism is the main Greek industry, with all the social and ecological problems that brings. A poor country whose economy has been further crippled by the sanctions imposed upon it by the EU and the IMF, Greece must struggle to compete in the tourism field with few resources other than its stunning natural beauty and the wealth of its cultural artefacts as the birthplace of Western civilisation.

Greece needs its tourist industry now more than ever; anyone choosing Greece as a holiday destination is helping to support its economy. Though struggling, it has lost none of its attraction for visitors; the Parthenon is still as breathtaking, the sea still as blue and the sand as white (and the Retsina as delicious) as ever. Greek people are unbelievably warm, child-friendly and hospitable and Greek food is healthy and delicious. Go to Greece for the holiday of a lifetime – you will neither regret nor forget it.

1. Parthenon (Athens)

No visit to Athens would be complete without a visit to the Parthenon, which together with Propylaea, Erechtheion and the temple of Athena Nike on the Acropolis in Athens was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. It was built between 447 and 438 BC and is generally considered the summit of Doric architecture. At an imposing 45 metres high, it dominates the surrounding architecture and is impossible to miss!

The Parthenon is easily accessible by metro from Athens railway station in 19 minutes (exit: Acropolis). A 12 minute walk up the Acropolis is necessary.

2. Meteora Monasteries (Kalambaka)

Perhaps the most breathtaking sacred architecture in the world are the six monasteries in the Meteora (literally: suspended in the pure air) mountains, which rise over 360 metres above the villages of Kalambaka and Kastraki in northern central Greece. These unique religious sites were built by monks in the 14th to 16th centuries to escape religious persecution; all six are fully functional and open to tourists.

350 kilometres north of Athens, Kalambaka can be reached from Larissa railway station by train in just over 4 hours, or from Thessaloniki in just over 3 hours.

3. Santorini

The romantic and magical island of Santorini is a favored holiday destination in Greece, particularly by honeymooners! With its clear blue water, black pebbled beaches and breathtaking views, Santorini is an idyllic destination for all tastes. Donkey riding, sailing, wine tours and excellent cuisine round off the mixture, while its sunsets are world famous.

Santorini has its own airport, with regular flights from the Eleftherios Venizelos airport in Athens; alternatively, ferries run regularly from Piraeus (around 9 hours) or Rafina (8 hours).

4. Knossos (Crete)

Probably the oldest city in Europe, Knossos dates from the Bronze Age. Excavations began in 1900 and were to continue for 35 years, during which it became apparent that the city was at least three times larger than originally thought. The restoration of the palace of Knossos began in 1922. It is a major tourist attraction on Crete; one can still see the labyrinth under the palace in which the legendary Minotaur was supposedly held captive, and the sacrificial altar. Anyone staying on Crete should definitely visit Knossos.

Knossos can be reached by car from Heraklion in around 20 minutes. Public transport is poor; car rental is advised.

5. Climb Mount Olympus

For avid hikers eager to follow in the footsteps of the Gods, a trek up Mount Olympus is a must! Eleven major Greek Gods supposedly lived on this stupendous mountain range on the border between Macedonia and Thessaly, 3.000 metres above sea level, and the Stefani peak was the throne of Zeus. Even for lesser mortals, mount Olympus offers lush scenery, wonderful air and breathtaking views.

The town of Litochoro (92 km south of Thessaloniki) – in itself a picturesque and culturally rich destination – is a traditional place to start exploring Olympus, and is also only a few kilometres from the sea. Litochoro can be reached by bus from Thessaloniki in 1 hour 45 minutes, or under an hour by car.

6. Delphi

Famed as the seat of the Delphic oracle whose wisdom and advice on important matters was revered throughout the classical ancient world, Delphi on the southwestern slopes of Mount Parnassus has lost none of its unique mysticism in the modern world. Second only to the Acropolis in terms of tourist attraction, Delphi offers a unique combination of a wealth of ancient ruins and an exquisite natural setting and is a high spot of any visit to Greece.

Delphi is accessible by car from Athens in around 2 hours 18 minutes, or just over 3 hours by bus.

7. Samaria Gorge (Crete)

A major tourist attraction on Crete and a National Park since 1962, the Samaria Gorgeprovides a unique hike and stunning views. 16 km long, it starts at an altitude of 1.250 metres, ending in Agia Roumeli on the shores of the Libyan sea. The hike is downhill all the way if commenced at the northern entrance. The Samaria Gorge is also a world Biosphere and offers protection to many endangered species of birds, animals and plants, including the rare “kri-kri” or Cretan mountain goat.

Agia Roumeli can be accessed by bus from Heraklion in 2 hours 40 minutes, or in 3 hours 40 minutes from Chania.

8. Corfu Old Town

The roots of the town of Corfu go back to the 8th century BC, and historically it has been under Corinthian, Roman, Byzantine, Venetian, Russian, French and English rule, only being given to Greece – along with the other six Ionian islands – in 1864. This mix of cultures has left fascinating traces in the old town, leading to its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2007. Narrow cobbled streets and enchanting shops and cafes, little houses in Greek and Venetian style and enticing glimpses of the Ionian sea all go to make Corfu`s atmosphere unique.

Corfu has its own airport and can be accessed by air from Athens in around one hour. Alternatively, ferries run regularly from Igoumenitsa (75 minutes).

9. Lion Gate (Mycenae)

The Bronze Age citadel of Mycenae stems from the 13th century BC and is the largest surviving relic of Mycenaean sculpture. The Lion Gate gains its name from the two heraldic lion sculptures above its lintel, at an imposing height of 3.10 metres. According to legend, this awe-inspiring edifice was built with the assistance of Cyclopes (one-eyed giants); it is a must for visitors to southern Greece.

Mycenae lies around 90 km southwest of Athens (90 minutes by car) and 48 km south of Corinth. Public transport is very poor, but there are many organized coach trips from Athens.

10. The Pelion

Generally considered the most beautiful mountain in Greece, the Pelion in southeastern Thessaly is a densely wooded and abundantly watered area, 1.610 metres high at its summit, which is very popular as a tourist destination at all times of the year. The region encompasses 24 villages, including Makrinitsa and Zagora, in which the traditional and charming Pelion architecture of blue and green slate and red clay buildings predominates.

The Pelion can be accessed by taking the bus from Athens to Volos (around 5 hours) and then a further bus from Volos to whichever town you wish to visit. It can also be accessed by car from Athens (around 5 hours) or Thessaloniki (around 3 hours).

11. The White Tower (Thessaloniki)

Thessaloniki`s impressive “White Tower” in this second largest city in Greece (Thessaloniki was founded in 315 BC) is now known to have been built in its present form under Ottoman rule after around 1430. It was used extensively as a prison and for mass executions until 1912, when the city was liberated by the Greeks during the first Balkan War. Despite its violent past, this impressive 46 m high turret has become the symbol of Thessaloniki and now houses a museum of the city’s history. The White Tower is open to the public between 08.30 am and 3.00 pm and is well worth a visit.

Thessaloniki is just over 500 km north of Athens (around 5 hours by bus or rail) and has its own airport (Makedonia airport), a 25 minute drive from the White Tower.

12. Mykonos

Ranked equally with Santorini for beauty and glamor, the island of Mykonos in the northern Cyclades is a haven for tourists seeking sun and sea, water sports, good food, romance and a lively night life. For this reason, since it is only 85 square metres in area, it can become crowded in the summer months; it is also expensive. That said, its beaches are among the most famous in Greece (if rather windy) and its winding cobbled streets and whitewashed houses have immense charm. The seafoodrestaurants, bars and boutiques are excellent and well used to catering for tourists, and the ancient islet of Delos is definitely worth a visit..

Mykonos has its own airport, with regular flights from Athens during the summer months (around 45 minutes). Alternatively there are ferries from Piraeus and Rafina, or any of the other Greek islands.

13. Cape Sounion (Lavrion)

At just 69 kilometres south of Athens, Cape Sounion is a great destination for a day trip. It is located on the southernmost point of the Attica Peninsula, overlooking the Aegean Sea, and is particularly famous for the Temple of Poseidon, which in its present form dates from around 440 BC and which bears an inscription of the name of the English poet Lord Byron (who visited Sounion in 1811-12). Kape Beach and Sounio beach are also particularly attractive.

Cape Sounion can be reached by bus from Athens in around 90 minutes, or by car in around 75 minutes; additionally, many day trips from Athens are available.

14. Nafplio

The town of Nafplio in the Peloponnese around 140 km southwest of Athens has its roots in ancient times, best found in the “Acronafplia” or city walls dating from the 4th century BC, with additions from Hellenistic and Byzantine periods and later modifications by Franks and Venetians between the 13th and 16th centuries. It was subsequently occupied by Ottomans until it was liberated during the Greek War of Independence (1821-1834) and then became the first capital city of the newly-founded Greek state. A flourishing seaport, Nafplio offers fascinating monuments (Palamidi and Bourtzi fortresses) and many museums for a smaller town. A great weekend getaway or day trip from Athens, Nafplio can be reached by car from Athens in around 1 hour 40 minutes.

15. Mystras (Sparta)

For a uniquely mystical and moving holiday experience, the ghost town of Mystras, 8 km west of the modern-day Sparta can definitely be recommended. A flourishing municipality and the capital of the Byzantine Morea despotate between the 14th and the 15th centuries, the town was abandoned after 1830 and is now largely uninhabited; some churches and a cloister are still in use. Located on the Taygetos mountain in Laconia, Peloponnese, the archaeological site of the town of Mystras was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1989 for its rich and fascinating relics of Byzantine architecture and frescoes.

Mystras can be reached by car from Athens in around 2 ½ hours.

16. Monastery of St. John the Divine (Patmos)

One of the quieter Greek islands, Patmos off the coast of Turkey in the Aegean is one of the Dodecanese islands, most famed for being the location of the writing of “The Book of Revelation”. It is also steeped in culture, history and spirituality (the churches and communities are largely Eastern Orthodox), with some of the most gorgeous beaches Greece has to offer. The Cave of the Apocalypse and the Monastery of St. John the Divine are well worth a visit, as are the famous “Stone of Kallikatsou” and the adjoining Petra beach.

The closest airports are located on the islands of Leros and Kos; Patmos has no airport and can only be accessed by ferry from Piraeus (7 ½ to 8 hours) or any of the other islands.

17. National Garden, Athens

An oasis of calm and harmony amid the heat and the bustle of Athens, this former Royal garden, completed in 1840, was commissioned by and dedicated to Queen Amalia. It covers 15.5 hectares of land and offers leafy bowers, shadowy lanes, a small zoo and many sculptures and curiosities. An ideal spot for a picnic with children while in Athens!

The Garden can be reached by metro from Athens railway station in 15 minutes (M2, exit Amalias).

18. Epidaurus Theatre and Temple of Asklepios

The ancient city of Epidaurus on the Argolid peninsula is one of the most visited archaeological sites in Greece. It is best known for its huge amphitheatre, built in the 4th century BC, which holds 14.000 spectators and has the most amazing acousticsand for this reason is still used for dramatic performances today; however, the remains of the Temple of Asklepios and the Abaton (i.e. place of incubation), relics of the Asklepios cult which rendered Epidaurus a center of healing in the ancient classical world, are also well worth a visit.

Epidaurus is around 130 km southwest of Athens, and easily accessed by car in around 1 hour 45 minutes, or by bus (around 2 hours).

19. Zagori National Parks (Ioannina)

The Zagori region, situated in the Pindus mountains of northwest Greece, is famed for its dramatic geological formations and lush natural beauty. It comprises 48 villages connected by footpaths and stone bridges and two National Parks, one east of mount Tymfi (Valia Kalda) and the other (Vikos-Aoös National Park, founded in 1973), which includes the Vikos Gorge and the Aoös river. Sparsely populated and difficult to access, the parks are a safe haven for many endangered species of flora and fauna, but also offer a wide range of activities such as mountaineering, hiking, rafting, canoeing and mountain-biking.

Ioannina has its own airport with regular flights to and from Athens (just over 1 hour) or Thessaloniki (2 hours 35 minutes); by train or road, it is accessible from Athens in around 5 hours.

20. Corinth

Named “New Corinth” after an earthquake in 1858 destroyed the previous town of Corinth (or “Archaia Korinthos”), which had grown up around the former ancient city of Corinth, today`s Corinth is largely known for its impressive Canal which connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf at sea level. Carved at a depth of 80 m into the rock, the Canal is over 6 km long and only 21.4 metres wide; too narrow to allow the passage of modern ships, today its main significance is as a tourist attraction. The archaeological site of “Archaia Korinthos”, the Archaeological Museum and the Temple of Apollo are just a few of the city`s further attractions.

Corinth can be reached by train from Athens in just under two hours, or by car in 1 hour.

21. Ydhra (Hydra)

One of Greece’s most romantic destinations, the island of Hydra in the Saronic Gulf played an important role in the Greek War of Independence and was the birthplace of five Greek prime ministers! With one major town (Hydra port) and a cluster of small villages and hamlets, but also because cars and other motorized vehicles are not allowed on the island, Hydra has maintained the integrity of its tradition despite a flourishing tourist trade. It has wonderful beaches, a great many museums and is a paradise for sailing and yachting.

Hydra can be reached from Piraeus by high-speed ferries in 1 hour (3 hours by conventional ferry).

22. Shipwreck Bay (Zakynthos)

The Venetians, who occupied the island of Zakynthos (aka Zante) between 1484 and 1797, dubbed it “The Flower of the East” for its over 7.000 species of flower, but the island is also famed for its Venetian castle, its remarkable churches and the diversity and beauty of its beaches, of which “Shipwreck Bay” or Navagio Beach on the northwest shore of the island is definitely the most photographed!

Zakynthos belongs to the Ionian islands and has its own airport, accessible from Athens by air in just over 1 hour. Alternatively, the island can be reached by ferry from Killini on the western Peloponnese in 1 hour.

23. Attica Zoological Park (Athens)

Great for time out from the noise, heat and bustle of Athens is the Attica Zoological Park in the Spata suburb of Athens. 2000 animals from 400 species are presented over an area of 49 acres. This private zoo, which opened in May 2000, contains the third largest bird collection in the world, as well as reptiles, big cats (including the rare white lion), wolves and foxes and many other species, many of which are threatened with extinction elsewhere.

The zoo is open 365 days a year and can be accessed by bus from Athens railway station in just over an hour (exit Spata Town Hall), or in 40 minutes by car.

24. Easter Festival

For a unique glimpse into the deeply spiritual traditions of the Greek people, the widely-held Easter festivals are a once in a lifetime experience. Particularly exciting on Skiathos, Corfu and Patmos, they include candlelit processions, joyful chanting in the streets and the hurling of clay pots, as well as brass bands, parades and fireworks. They are held in the week leading up to Easter Sunday.

Corfu and Skiathos can both be reached from Piraeus in around one hour, and Patmos in around 11 hours.

25. Windsurfing Lefkada

The Ionian island of Lefkada is a windsurfers paradise, with a number of clubs specifically for windsurfers at all levels of ability. Particularly popular to windsurfers are the Vassiliki and Ai Yannis beaches, but Lefkada has many other beautiful beaches for swimming, sunbathing and snorkelling too.

Lefkada has its own airport, but is also connected to the mainland and is thus accessible by road (5 ½ hours from Athens).

26. Temple of Apollo Epicurius (Bassae)

Bassae in the northeast of Messenia is an archaeological site particularly famed for its well-preserved 5th century BC Temple of Apollo Epicurius, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site – the first in Greece – in 1986. Situated on a slope of Mount Kotylion amid a somewhat rocky and barren landscape, this awe-inspiring temple is believed to have been built on the foundations of an even more ancient temple. It was designed by Iktinos, who also designed the Parthenon.

The closest town is Andritsaina (14.5 km). Bassae lies 250 km south west of Athens.

27. Sithonia

The Sithonia peninsula is located in southern central Chalkidiki, surrounded by the Singitic and Toronean Gulfs. Popular activities on the peninsula include swimming and watersports – Sithonia has some of the loveliest beaches and coves in Greece – as well as cycling, hiking and fishing. The main town of the region, Nikiti, is around 67 km southeast of Thessaloniki airport and easily accessible by bus (2 hours 15 minutes) or car (just over 1 hour).

Nikiti`s particular attractions include the old town, the Basilica of Sofronios and the church of Agios Nikitas.

28. Kefalonia

With a surface area of 773 square kilometres, Kefalonia is the largest of the Ionian islands and a popular tourist destination with its quaint mountain villages, Byzantine monasteries and beautiful beaches. Top on the list of Kefalonia`s attractions are the sea lake of Melissani, the Caves of Drogarati and the lighthouse of Argostoli, as well as the beautiful villages of Fiskardo and Assos.

Kefalonia has its own airport, with regular flights from Athens or Thessaloniki (1 hour). Ferries also run from Killini (western Peloponnese), which take around 1 hour.

29. Goulandris Natural History Museum (Kifissia, Athens)

The Natural History Museum was founded by the brothers Niki and Angelos Goulandris in 1964 as a non-profit enterprise directed at the protection and conservation of wildlife. Its exhibits include a wide range of animal and plant fossils, botanical specimens from all over Greece and an impressive mineral and rock collection. Furthermore, the museum is dedicated to the protection of two endangered species, the Loggerhead turtle and the Mediterranean monk seal.

The Museum is located in Kifissia, a suburb 20 km northeast of Athens. It can be accessed by Metro in 35 minutes (M2, exit Kifissia).

30. Diomidis Botanical Garden (Chaidari, Athens)

Not far from the bustling city center of Athens, this huge and exquisite botanical garden is the largest in Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean. It was opened in 1852 and named after former Prime Minister Alexandros Diomidis and his wife Julia, who inspired and founded it. Covering an area of nearly 5.000 square metres and with over 2.500 varieties of plant from all over the world, it offers welcome relief from busy Athens. It also boasts a restaurant and a children’s playground.

The Botanical Gardens are accessible from Athens railway station in 20 minutes by car, or 40 minutes by bus.

31. Mount Athos (Thessaloniki)

An unforgettable spiritual experience is a visit to Mount Athos, known in Greek as “The Holy Mountain”. A peninsula and a mountain, Mount Athos is home to 20 monasteries and is an autonomous monastic state. Only men over 18 are allowed onto the peninsula and must obtain a written permit (“Diamonitirion”) to do so (boys under 18 must be accompanied by their fathers, or if in a group, must carry notarized written permission from their parents). Those wishing to stay overnight should book six months in advance. Women wishing to see the monasteries can take part in one of many boat cruises around the peninsula, since traditionally no woman has been allowed to enter the peninsula for a thousand years.

The best way to visit Mount Athos is by car from Thessaloniki to Ouranoupoli (just under 2 hours) and then take the ferry to Daphni port (just over 2 hours).

32. Labyrinth Park Chersonissos (Crete)

A welcome change for the children after the ruins of Knossos, the Labyrinth park at Chersonissos offers quad rides, pottery, archery, mini golf, horse-riding and a 3-dimensional,1.300 square metres labyrinth (complete with Minotaur). Refreshments (and shade) are available at the cafeteria and organic garden.

Chersonissos lies around 23 km east of Heraklion (30 minutes by car or 43 minutes by bus).

33. Greek Children’s Art Museum (Athens)

One of very few museums worldwide devoted exclusively to works of art and sculpture by children between the ages of 4 and 14. It currently houses over 7.000 exhibits, including post-war children`s drawings, rag dolls made by children in Africa, animal drawings by Kalash children and many other interesting and thought-provoking articles. The museum hosts art competitions for children and programmes for the disabled, as well as running workshops.

The Museum is located in Plaka, 11 minutes from Athens Railway Station by metro (M2, exit Akropoli) or 16 minutes by car.

34. Skopelos

The island of Skopelos in the west Aegean is one of the Northern Sporades islands. At 96 square kilometres, Skopelos is slightly larger than Santorini or Mykonos; it is also quieter, with few organized activities. However, with its wonderful beaches, lush green forests and picturesque villages (such as Skopelos or Glossa) it is an idyllic destination for a relaxing holiday. Scenes from the film “Mamma Mia” were shot at the Church of Agios Ioannis Kastri on Skopelos.

Ferries run regularly from Volos to Skopelos (2 hours 50 minutes).

35. Schinias Beach (Athens)

At a mere 51 km northeast of Athens city center, Schinias Beach is perfect for a day trip when staying in Athens. With clean shallow water and masses of sand, it is ideal for children. Pine forests come right down to the beach, and the excellent fish tavernas run on generators, because there is no electricity there.

Schinias Beach is around 50 minutes by car from Athens center. Public transport is not advised.

36. Mount Parnitha National Park (Athens)

30 km northwest of Athens lies the Mount Parnitha National Park, which covers 300 square kilometres and is home to many species of mammal, bird and plant. It also has a number of small caves. Parnitha mountain is very popular for trekking and hiking, and gambling lovers can try their luck at the exclusive hotel “Mont Parnes”.

By road it is around 1 hour 20 minutes from Athens center to Parnitha. It is a winding, steep road up the mountain; it may be preferable to leave the car at the foot of the mountain and ascend by cable-car!

37. Archaeological Aigai

The city of Aigai (modern name: Vergina) on the northern side of the Pierian mountains is known to date back to the early Bronze Age and was the ancient capital of the Lower Macedonian kingdom. The site consists of many important monuments, including the tombs of the royal Macedonian dynasty, the palace and the theatre and the ancient city and its walls. The many priceless gold, ivory and metal objects and paintings found on the site are contained in a subterranean structure to preserve them, which is effectively a museum.

Vergina is 70 km west of Thessaloniki and accessible in under 1 hour by car.

38. Rhodos

The capital of the Dodecanese islands, Rhodos (or Rhodes) is a fascinating destination for an action-packed holiday. With its lush green valleys and hills, its long golden beaches and plethora of mediaeval buildings, Rhodes is an exciting blend of traditional and modern attractions. The island is well-adapted to hosting tourists and receives thousands every year.

Rhodes has its own airport, or can be reached by ferry from Piraeus (11-17 hours).

39. Lake Kerkini

Lake Kerkini in northern Greece is an artificial reservoir, created in 1932 and expanded in the 80s on former marshland. Thousands of rare or endangered birds have their home here, as do fish, reptiles and amphibians. It is an idyllic region of wetlands, lakeside forests and widespread waterlilies, perfect for hiking, cycling and/or birdwatching.

Lake Kerkini is around 98 km north of Thessaloniki (1 ½ hours by car), and only 20 km from the Bulgarian border.

40. Palaios Panteleimonas

Palaios Panteleimonas is a stunningly restored 14th century village on the slopes of Mount Olympos. Set in opulent beech and chestnut woods at an altitude of 700 metres, it is a paradise for paragliders, hikers and mountain bikers. Palaios Panteleimonas is only 6 km from the village and beach of Neos Panteleimonas; many festivals and cultural events take place in its Venetian Platamonas Castle.

41. Makrinitsa (Volos)

Makrinitsa, referred to as “the balcony of Pelion” is situated in the northwestern Pelion mountains, 6 km from Volos. Extremely picturesque with its cobbled streets and myriad water fountains, Makrinitsa enjoys great popularity as a tourist destination, particularly during the winter months. It also houses the Museum of Folk Art and History of Pelion.

Makrinitsa can be reached by car from Volos in 11 minutes, or 15 minutes by bus.

42. Daphni Monastery (Athens)

Located on the outskirts of Athens in a dense forest, the exquisite Byzantine monastery with its priceless gold mosaics makes a perfect day trip when staying in Athens. Sadly, the monastery was damaged in the 1999 earthquake and was closed for many years. Though still encased in scaffolding, it is now open from 9 am till 2 pm on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Daphni monastery is accessible from Athens railway station in 20 minutes by car, or 45 minutes by bus.

43. Myrtos Beach (Kefalonia)

You have probably already seen Myrtos beach without knowing it, because it is frequently photographed for calendars of the world`s most beautiful places. It was voted 12 times as the best beach in Greece, and is frequently listed under the best beaches in the world. Additionally, it was used as the backdrop for a scene in the movie “Captain Corelli`s Mandolin”. Set between two mountains on the northwest coast of the island of Kefalonia, it comprises 2.5 km of dazzling white pebbles and sand and brilliant, clear, sparkling turquoise water.

Kefalonia has its own airport, which lies around 40 minutes by car south of Myrtos beach.

44. Delos (Mykonos)

The diminutive (under 5 square km) island of Delos in the middle of the Cyclades archipelago has historical and cultural significance which belie its size or population. Excavations indicate that it was occupied as early as 3000 BC, and Greek legends claim it to have been the birthplace of Artemis and Apollo. It has a wealth of ruins and monuments, including the house of Dionysus with its mosaic floor, the House of Cleopatra, the House of the Trident, the Temple of Isis and many more. Many of the artefacts found here are contained in the Archaeological Museum of Delos.

Delos can easily be reached by ferry from Mykonos, which takes around 30 minutes.

45. Cretaquarium (Heraklion)

Established in 2005 by the Institute of Marine Biology of Crete for research, educational and cultural purposes, the Cretaquarium is located 15 km east of Heraklion. With 60 tanks and over 2.000 species of marine organism (particularly those indigenous to the Mediterranean), it is one of the largest and most modern aquariums in Europe.

The Cretaquarium is located in Gournes, 19 minutes by car from Heraklion.

46. Arachova (Delphi)

Known for its cheese (“Formaela”), its woodcuttings and colorful carpets and textiles, Arachova is located on the southern slopes of Mount Parnassus in the Boeotia region. At around 960 m above sea level, it is a popular resort for skiers and hikers and also owing to its proximity to Delphi. The traditions of the town can best be observed from 20. to 23. April, when the patron St. George is honored with lively celebrations.

Arachova can be reached from Delphi in 11 minutes by bus, or 13 minutes by car.

47. Aegean Regatta

The Aegean Regatta takes place annually at various different locations in the Aegean, and lasts for one week. At least 100 sailing ships take place in a series of colorful and exciting races along the coast and between the islands. A must for lovers of sailing and maritime adventures, as well as a great opportunity to make friends and improve your sailing skills, whilst strengthening your acquaintance with Greece’s islands and coastline!

48. Loutraki Spa (Corinth)

Famed since antiquity for the therapeutic properties of its vast thermal springs and spas, the town of Loutraki on the Gulf of Corinth owes much of its popularity today to its wellness and thalassotherapy resorts. 8 km northeast of Corinth and 80 km to the west of Athens, Loutraki has a large beach, a modern convention center, the Dexameni Park and the monastery of Patapios (located on Mount Geraneia), as well as its famous spa. The town was destroyed in an earthquake in 1928, so there are few old buildings.

Loutraki can be reached in 17 minutes by car from Corinth, public transport is not recommended.

49. Nikopolis (Preveza)

Nikopolis is perhaps the largest ancient Greek city, yet it is not well-known. Built by Caesar Augustus to commemorate his victory against Antony and Cleopatra at Actium (31 BC), the site comprises a monument of Augustus, a theatre, thermal baths, a Roman villa with exquisite mosaics and many other features of cultural and historical interest.

Now known as Palea Preveza (or Old Preveza), Nikopolis is located around 5 km north of Preveza on the Gulf of Arta in Epirus. Preveza has its own airport (Aktio or Lefkada airport), around 12 minutes by car from the site.

50. Karytaina

The quaint village of Karytaina in Arkadia (southern Greece) is located on a hill on the right bank of the Alpheios river, 57 km west of Tripoli. Its splendid mediaeval castle and the largely untouched traditional quality of its architecture led to its nickname “The Greek Toledo”; it was also depicted on the Greek 5000 drachma note from 1984 to 2001. Additionally, it is the venue for an outstanding “Women`s Bazaar”, which starts on the first Sunday in August and lasts for 3 days.

51. Archaeological Museum (Chania)

Chania`s fascinating archaeological museum is housed in a former Venetian Monastery on Chalidon Street, Crete. Founded in 1962, it houses an impressive collection of Minoan and Roman artefacts found in the area, including coins, pottery, jewelry and mosaics, even a mosaic floor depicting Ariadne and Dionysos.

The museum located on the Venetian harbor, 5 minutes on foot from the coach station.

52. Monastiraki Flea Market (Athens)

For bargain shopping, the Monastiraki Flea Market in the old town of Athens is hard to beat. It is open every day, but is most exciting on Sundays, particularly on Abyssinias Square where improvised stalls line the streets offering books, stamps, coins, vintage clothing, bric a brac and any number of other articles to be haggled over.

A popular tourist destination in Athens, the Flea Market covers the area from Monastiraki Square to Ermou street and can be easily accessed by metro from Athens railway station in 14 minutes (M2, exit Monastiraki).

53. Aqualand Corfu

Corfu’s “Aqualand”, ringed by shady woods and covering a surface area of 75.000 square metres, was built in the two years between 1995 and 1997. Amusement and theme parks are a relatively new phenomenon in Greece, and the park is small by European and American standards; that said, its water attractions are great, with high standards of hygiene and safety, good food and a relaxing atmosphere for young and old alike.

Aqualand is located at Agios Ioannis, 16 minutes west of Corfu airport by car.

54. Kalarites and Syrrako

Two eagle nest villages villages facing each other at 1.200 metres above sea level on Mt. Peristeri in the Ioannina region of Epirus, both with exquisite grey stone architecture and unspoiled mediaeval character, ornamental fountains and stone bridges, separated by a ravine and connected by a narrow trail – it doesn’t get more romantic than that! Breathtaking, panoramic views of the ravine and the snow-capped mountains add to the attractions of this very off the beaten track part of Greece. Hiking, paragliding or mountain biking are only some of the activities for which this region is suitable.

Syrrako is 52 km east of Ioannina airport (1 hour 36 minutes by car). Public transport is not advised.

55. Olympia

Olympia, the ancient site of the modern day Olympic games from 776 BC onwards, which originally were part of a religious festival to honor Zeus, is today an archaeological site in the Elis region of the Peloponnese. It is a unique experience to walk through the ruins of the area in which athletes trained and competed 3000 years ago!

The ancient site of Olympia is a 5-10 minute walk from the modern town of Olympia, which lies around 4 hours by car west of Athens.

56. Maritime Museum (Crete)

The Maritime Museum of Crete, which opened in 1973, is housed in Firka, a Venetian fortress at the mouth of Chania harbor. It comprises 13 units covering two storeys, which cover all aspects of Cretan maritime history from ancient times until the Battle of Crete, including reproductions of a number of ships and a substantial collection of seashells.

The Museum is located on Akti Kountourioti, around ten minutes on foot from the coach station.

57. Lindos (Rhodes)

Lindos on Rhodes can compete with Delphi as the second most popular archaeological site in Greece; nestling on the hills dwarfed by its magnificent acropolis and cradled between two harbors, its pretty whitewashed or mediaeval buildings encapsulate the essence of Rhodes. The town is a unique blend of ancient, traditional and modern, and its beautiful beaches and clear blue water make it an idyllic holiday destination.

Lindos is located on the east coast of Rhodes, 52 minutes southeast of Rhodes airport by car or 57 minutes by shuttle bus.

58. Karpenisi Velouchi Ski Resort

Mountainous Karpenisi in central Greece is often called “Greece’s Switzerland” for its resemblance to that country and its ski resort, which make it a popular tourist destination, particularly in winter. However, the area offers a number of other attractions: the Proussos Monastery and the Panta Vrexei Canyon are only two examples, while the Saloon Park offers a range of activities for children and adults, including horseriding, shooting and climbing.

Karpenisi lies 287 km northwest of Athens (3 hours 50 by car).

59. Golden Hall Playground (Athens)

For time out while shopping at Athens famous Golden Hall mall, the Golden Hall Playground is a godsend for parents with tired feet and irritable kids! Trees, shrubs and fountains provide welcome shade, and the climbing frames and other attractions offer little ones the possibility to let off steam. There is an inside play area for kids over three and a separate computer play area for older children. The Mall itself is very exclusive and a designer`s paradise.

The Mall is located on the Leof. Kifisias, Marousi, around 1 hour from Athens railway station by metro (M2, exit Olympia Stadium).

60. Church Panagia Kera (Kritsa, Crete)

Due to its exemplary Byzantine frescoes, the Panagia Kera church in the Dikte mountains is one of the most culturally and historically significant churches on the island of Crete. Dating from the 13th century, its icon of the Virgin Mary is believed to have miraculous powers. This remote Byzantine monument is located 1 km outside Kritsa and 8 km south of Agios Nikolaos (14 minutes by car). Organized tours to the church are available from Agios Nikolaos.

61. Archaeological Museum (Thessaloniki)

Thessaloniki’s Archaeological Museum was built in 1962 and extensively added to in 1980, with further modifications and reorganization in 2001 and 2004. Its exhibits consist of finds from Macedonia, and Thessaloniki in particular, dating from late antiquity back to prehistoric times. It is one of the largest museums in Greece, and the most significant in Northern Greece. Particularly fine are the Aravissos Hoard (golden artefacts from 4500 to 3200 BC) and the Petralona Hoard, consisting of bronze tools from the Early Bronze Age (3000 BC). For anyone staying in or near Thessaloniki, this museum is definitely worth a visit.

The Museumis located on Manoli Andronikou street in the city center, just minutes on foot from the railway station.

62. Gournia (Agios Nikolaos, Crete)

One of the loveliest and best-visited archaeological sites on Crete is Gournia on the northern coast of the island, about 1 ½ hours from Heraklion and 19 km east of Agios Nikolaos. The original Minoan name of the settlement is not known; the site was named “Gournia” owing to the many bowls and jugs found there. It has been lovingly excavated, revealing walls and houses in an excellent state of preservation, and lies in idyllic natural surroundings, with breathtaking views.

Day trips to Gournia are available from Agios Nikolaos; the trip takes around 30 minutes by car.

63. Leros

Despite its diminutive size (55 square kilometres), the island of Leros offers a wide range of activities to suit all ages and tastes. It has an excellent network of roads and lanes and can be easily explored on foot, by bicycle or motorbike or car. The Crithoni and Panagias beaches and the Bay of Alinda are very popular for swimming and sunbathing; particularly beautiful are the beach of Vromolithos, the picturesque port of Agia Marina, the village of Panteli and the lovely Byzantine castle of Panagia.

Leros is one of the Dodecanese islands, accessible by ferry from Piraeus (7-8 hours) or 45 minutes by air from Athens.

64. Ambelakia

The historical town of Ambelakia is situated in the Larissa region of Thessaly, 5 km into the Tempe valley at an elevation of 450 m above sea level and 30 minutes by car north of Larissa airport. It is only about 12 km from the Aegean coast, but a view of the sea is not possible owing to the Ossa mountains. Cobbled streets wind between quaint historical houses and mansions in the style of the Macedonian well-to-do, alternating with flowery and shady squares. The town also has a Folk Museum and a Handicraft museum, as well as gift shops and a fine church.

Ambelakia is best reached by car; it is 5 km off the Thessaloniki/Athens motorway.

65. Planetarium (Athens)

For a welcome diversion from the heat and noise of Athens, the high-tech digital Planetarium in the city’s center is a great choice. An offshoot of the Eugenides Foundation – which is dedicated to research and education – and with 280 seats, 3D viewing and 935 square metres surface area, it will delight potential astronauts and astronomers of all ages. It is also dark and cool!

The M2 metro line goes to the Planetarium (Leof. Andrea Siggrou) from the city center in around 40 minutes (exit Evgenidio).

66. Waterpark (Faliraki, Rhodes)

A popular seaside resort among tourists, Faliraki on the northeastern coast of the island of Rhodes boasts the largest waterpark in Greece as well as fun parks for smaller children, a history park and a bowling park. The waterpark covers an area of 100.000 square metres with a wide range of speed slides, closed slides, Kamikaze, Turbo and free fall slides, to name just a few. Six different snack bars offering traditional Greek food as well as international favorites round off the mixture.

Faliraki in the Kallithea area lies around 14 km south of Rhodes city and 10 km southeast of the airport (around 15 minutes by bus or car).

67. Acrocorinth

Only a couple of kilometres from the ancient city of Corinth and 11.4 km inland from Corinth city center (19 minutes by car or taxi), the massive monolith of Acrocorinth is visible from the city center. It is not subject to much tourism, but is well worth a visit owing to its spectacular views. Originally a Greek acropolis, then a Roman citadel and finally a Byzantine fortress, it was subsequently occupied by Turks. Ruins of the fortified walls, the castle and the Temple of Aphrodite can be viewed, as can the Sanctuary of Demeter.

For a fascinating half day trip out of Corinth city center, Acrocorinth is well worth the effort.

68. Vlasti (Thessaloniki)

The village of Vlasti in western Macedonia, ringed by the crags of Mt. Mouraki, was pretty much unknown until the inception of its somewhat hippie “Earth Festival” in 2001. Since then, the village hums with activity during the second week of July every year; people flock there from all over the world for concerts, dancing, shows and stalls. The aim is to strengthen the sensitivity and awareness of visitors towards all aspects of ecology and the environment.

Vlasti is well-equipped for tourists, with camping sites, hotels, bars and cafes. It is located 164 km west of Thessaloniki (just over 2 hours by car).

69. Dinosaur Park and Mammoth Museum (Thessaloniki)

Opened in 2008, Thessaloniki`s Dinosaur Park is the largest lifesize dinosaur park in Europe. Covering a total area of 30.000 square metres, the Park boasts real fossils as well as replicas of mammals going back to the Ice Age, as well as a real cave showing exhibits of man’s evolution. Very attractively landscaped, with shady trees, a lake and a waterfall, the Park offers a welcome change from the heat of the city and will delight budding palaeontologists of all ages!

The Park is located at Oraiokastrou, 4 ½ kilometres north of the city center (15 minutes by car).

70. Olympic Sports Complex (Athens)

For sport lovers of any age, a visit to the famous Sports Complex in the Marousi region in northeast Athens is a must. Opened in 1982 and extensively refurbished for the Olympic Games in 2004, this huge complex comprises an Olympic stadium, an Olympic indoor hall, an aquatic center, a velodrome and a tennis center. Many significant international sporting events have been held there, and in 2006 the indoor hall hosted the 51st Eurovision song contest. Currently the official home stadium of AEK Athens FC, the stadium has fallen into disuse during the Greek economic crisis, and its main interest is as an exquisitely designed (and to the tune of 8 billion Euros expensively realized) ghost stadium.

The Olympics Sports Complex can be reached from Athens railway station in 20-30 minutes by car, or under an hour by public transport.

71. Golden Fun Park Daratsos (Agii Apostoli, Chania)

Just five minutes`drive from Chania town center in Agii Apostoli is the largest amusement park on Crete. It features an 18-hole golf course, indoor and outdoor children’s playground, billiards, video games, 8 bowling lanes, and a snack bar. Ideal for sunburned children (or adults) bored with ruins, it offers a good day`s fun and entertainment, albeit at rather elevated prices.

Agii Apostoli is within walking distance from many parts of Chania and is attractive and interesting in its own right.

72. Jewish Synagogue (Veroia)

Veroia, situated in Macedonia (northern Greece), was probably populated as early as 1000 BC. Important to Philip II of Macedonia – the father of Alexander the Great – and a place of worship for the Romans, it was one of the first seats of Christianity in the empire and St. Paul preached there. The Synagogue dates from the Roman era and is the last remaining synagogue in Greece still standing. Located in the extensive Jewish quarter of the city, it has been perfectly restored. Admission is by appointment only .

73. National Park Mount Olympus

The Mount Olympus area, an area of around 3.734 square kilometres surrounding this famous seat of the Gods and the highest mountain in Greece, was the first area in Greece to be declared a national park (1938). An area of stunning scenic beauty, comprising many quaint and picturesque traditional villages (Paleos Panteleimonas, Litochoro, Dion, Petra), it was designated a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1981. Favorite activities include hiking, paragliding, bird watching, rock climbing and mountain biking. There are six retreats within the park to cover the needs of visitors.

The beauties of the Park can be explored from any of the above-mentioned villages! Mt. Olympus lies around 140 km southwest of Thessaloniki (just over 3 hours by car).

74. Parga (Igoumenitsa)

Known for its scenic beauty, its fine Venetian castle and its exquisite beaches, the waterfront town of Parga in Epirus, northwestern Greece is a favorite holiday destination in the area. Its romantic, colorful houses and stone-paved squares, lush greenery and turquoise water contribute to its serene and relaxing atmosphere. The Lichnos and Valtos beaches, accessible by boat from the Port of Parga, are considered to be among the finest in Greece.

A lovely venue from which to explore the many surrounding attractions, Parga lies 62 km north of Preveza and 44 km south of Igoumenitsa and can be reached by car from both towns in under an hour.

75. Rock-Climbing on Kalymnos

Kalymnos is reputed to have the highest concentration of rock climbing and mountain climbing activities in the world. One of the Dodecanese islands lying between the islands of Kos and Leros and with a surface area of only 134.5 square kilometres, it nonetheless boasts 65 sports crags and over 3.000 routes, with many more still to be discovered. Largely mountainous, Kalymnos has little in the way of agriculture; olives, oranges and vines grow in the two fertile valleys of Vathia and Pothia and sponge-fishing was the main industry on the island until a strange virus began to decimate the sponge population in the 80s.

Kalymnos has its own airport, or can be accessed by ferry from Piraeus (around 16 hours).

76. Edipsos (Evia)

With its many activities, Evia (or Euboea), the second largest Greek island after Crete is equally popular in winter and in summer. The densely-wooded, lush northern part of the island is extremely popular with tourists and has some lovely beaches, and the spa town of Edipsos, famed for its thermal springs and therapeutic waters, has become a byword for wellness. Trekking and hiking routes are well-regulated and dotted with small monasteries, ancient churches and traditional villages.

Easily accessed by road along the Chalkida bridge, Evia also has its own airport, accessible from Athens airport in just 50 minutes.

77. Prasonisi Windsurfing (Rhodes)

For windsurfers of all shapes and sizes, it doesn’t get much better than Prasonisi Cape on the island of Rhodes. 92 km from Rhodes city, located on the southwestern tip of the island with consequent reliable strong winds (!), Prasonisi is a wind and kite surfers paradise. The island caters to the windsurfing community, with modern equipment and facilities; accommodation and social facilities (bars, swimming pools etc.) are very basic. The Prasonisi lighthouse and nearby archaeological site of Vroulia are worth a visit.

Prasonisi is accessible from Rhodes airport in around 1 hour 40 minutes by car, or 2 hours by bus.

78. Parthenonas (Neos Marmaras)

The traditional village of Parthenonas on the slopes of Mt. Dragoudelis (aka Itamos) on the Sithonia peninsula south of Chalkidiki has become increasingly popular in recent years as a starting point from which to explore the Sithonia region, which is rich in historical, cultural and entertainment attractions. The old chapel of Agios Stefanos and the folklore museum are definite spots of interest, while the quaint houses and laid-back atmosphere make a welcome change from sand, sea and ruins!

79. Agia Pelagia (Crete)

Just 25 km northwest of busy Heraklion is the enchanting small fishing town of Agia Pelagia. A reasonably quiet and inexpensive place to stay, it is also an idyllic one with its small Greek tavernas, lovely small and hidden beaches (as well as one large and heavily frequented one) and wonderful sunsets. The area is not windy, so the sea is generally calm and suitable for small children. Well worth a visit is the mountain village of Fodele, 11 km inland and home to the painter El Greco.

</a href=”http://www.holidays2crete.com/destination/agia-pelagia/#.WJR7HNLhCUk”> Agio Pelagia is accessible by car in 30 minutes from Heraklion.

80. Petralona Cave (Thessaloniki)

The tiny village of Petralona (35 km southeast of Thessaloniki in the Chalkidiki region) may have escaped detection by the tourist industry but for the discovery in 1959 of a large cave, with many corridors and tunnels and breathtaking stalactites and stalagmites, in which a skull was found dating from more than 700.000 years previously, making it the oldest specimen of Homo erectus ever found in Europe. An archaeological museum near the cave shows artefacts discovered in its interior, though the skull itself is now at the University of Thessaloniki.

81. In and Out in 60 Minutes (Kozani)

For a truly unique holiday experience, the escape rooms “In and Out in 60 Minutes” in Kozani (126 km southwest of Thessaloniki) take some beating. Little known yet very highly rated, this very different “attraction” offers four different “rooms” where you have 60 minutes to solve various problems (for example, deactivating the alarm system and stealing a precious diamond) before escaping the room.

Kozani has its own airport, the Kozani National Airport Filippos. The Escape Rooms are located on Plateia Eleftherias, 12 minutes by car or taxi. Rooms need to be reserved!

82. Gramvousa and Balos Lagoon (Crete)

The highlight of your trip to Crete could be a boat trip to the uninhabited islands of Gramvousa and Balos Lagoon. The islands played a significant role in the 16th century defending Crete against the Ottoman Turks, and again during the Greek War of Independence, during which it was besieged for 2 years, forcing its inhabitants to turn to piracy to survive. The remains of a Venetian fortress (built between 1579 and 1584) and various other buildings are worth a visit, and the Balos Lagoon and the little islet/peninsula Tigani (which can be reached by wading through shallow water) are uniquely beautiful.

Boat trips to Gramvousa are available from the Port of Kissamos, which lies 37 km west of Chania (34 minutes by car).

83. Flisvos Children`s Playground (Athens)

Worth considering as a diversion for children after the ruins of the Acropolis, this playground covers nearly 7 acres of land with space and amenities for up to 1.400 children. A huge complex at the Park’s center has slides, swings and theme attractions such as ships, castles and towers, many with ramps for disabled children. There is a canteen and many cycling and walking routes throughout the park. However, it can become overcrowded at the weekends and there is not much shade: sunhats and maybe a sunshade are a must.

Flisvos Park is situated in Palaio Faliro, 10 km south of the city center (14 minutes by car).

84. Bicycle Tour Peloponnese

Since the infrastructure in many areas of Greece is poor or lacking and the roads are bumpy and street signs rare, a bicycle tour can be the best way to visit places which are off the beaten track. Many guided and self-guided bicycle tours are on offer in the Peloponnese which take in both the sun and sea and the ruins and culture aspects of this lovely region. Bicycles can be rented very cheaply, or you can bring your own. Spring or fall are obviously the best time for cycling; from June to August the temperatures soar.

The Peloponnese is a peninsula in southern Greece, connected to the Greek mainland by the Gulf of Corinth. Corinth is accessible in around 1 ½ hours by train from Athens.

85. Kastoria

Kastoria, scenically situated on a promontory in a limestone valley flanking the shores of Lake Orestiada, is thought to have ancient origins; however, in its present form it first sprang up during the course of the Bulgarian-Byzantine Wars (10th/11th centuries AD). Its architecture is predominantly Byzantine, with beautiful mansions and churches and a magnificent promenade along the shores of the lake, possibly one of Greece’s most romantic walks, offering spectacular views of the city and its surrounding mountains.

Kastoria is located 190 km west of Thessaloniki (2 hours) and 165 km north of Ioannina (1 hour 50 minutes). It has its own airport.

86. Sea-Kayak in Ithaca and Kefalonia

The Ionian sea on Greece’s west coast is a paradise for kayak enthusiasts. Almost invariably calm, with stunning coastlines, bays and caves, islands and tiny remote fishing villages, it seems to ask to be explored in depth. And indeed, many people feel that Greece is best explored by boat, since many of the most stunning coastal locations are only accessible from the water.

A great many guided and unguided sea-kayaking tours for all skill levels are available in the area, which is served by the airport of Zakynthos (around 1 hour from Athens).

87. Epanomi and Angelochori Lagoons (Thessaloniki)

A protected area 45 minutes`drive southwest of Thessaloniki in the Thermaikos municipality, the two lagoons of Epanomi (at Paralia Epanomis) and Angelochori are home to nearly 200 species of protected bird and over 2500 species of plant, with designated sunbathing and swimming areas. Blue waters lap against white sand and the peace is only broken by the cries of many wild birds, making the lagoons of Epanomi and Angelochori a perfect place to relax from the city.

88. Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art (Skopje)

The Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art, located in Macedonia’s capital city, Skopje, was founded in 1963 following the earthquake which had severely damaged the city. Largely devoted to works from the 50s, 60s and 70s, the museum also houses around 100 works from the earlier modern period, including Filla and Masson. Works by Picasso, Hans Hartung, Christo, Kemeny and many other internationally known modern artists are of particular significance.

Skopje is located around 25 km from the border to Kosovo and has its own airport. It is 702 km north of Athens and 243 km northwest of Thessaloniki (just under 3 hours by car).

89. Boat Fishing Chalkidiki

For sea-lovers, maritime enthusiasts and anglers of all ages, a boat fishing trip can be an unforgettable experience of Chalkidiki. Lines and other equipment are provided as part of the trip, which is supervised by expert fishermen. Blue- and yellowfin tuna, albacore, marlin, mackerel and even swordfish with a weight ranging from 8 to 60 kilos are possible catches in the Chalkidiki area, making for great fishing and a lot of fun.

Chalkidiki is 71 km southeast of Thessaloniki (1 ¼ hours by car).

90. Milos

A mere 151 square kilometres in size, the island of Milos in the Aegean is nonetheless a very popular tourist destination in the summer. Mountainous and rugged for the main part, with Mt. Profitis Elias 748 metres above sea level in the west and hot sulphur springs in the east, it is nonetheless extremely attractive, with superb beaches (Tsigrado, Pahena), the harbor town of Adamas with its bars and fish restaurants and numerous beautiful churches.

Milos has its own airport (40 minutes by air from Athens) or alternatively can be reached by ferry from Piraeus (around 7 hours).

91. Horse-Trekking (Hydra)

Since cars are not allowed on Hydra, horse-trekking tours on the island are very popular and in high demand, with many different offers to choose from at reasonable prices. It is also the type of holiday which is suitable for the whole family at all times of the year; even in winter, the temperature seldom drops below 56° Fahrenheit, though December can be wet.

Hydra can be reached by ferry from Piraeus in just over 1 hour, or by hydrofoil in 1 ½ hours.

92. Skiing at Agrio Lefkes (Mt. Pelion)

At an altitude of 1170 to 1471 metres above sea level, Agrio Lefkes on Mt. Pelion is ideal for skiing in winter, with four ski runs of varying difficulty (including one for beginners) and 5 ski lifts (including one for infants), as well as chalets, ski and snowboard rental services and schools of instruction and first aid facilities. The season begins in December and ends in March, depending on snowfall.

93. Sailing at Aegina

Located in the Saronic Gulf just 27 km off the coast of Athens, the petite island of Aegina (87.51 square kilometres) is the place to go if you have ever dreamed of sailing around the Greek islands. One can rent sailboats with or without a skipper and crew from a number of places in Athens, or directly on Aegina, while lessons and courses for children are available from the Yachting Club of Aegina (NOA).

Ferries leave for Aegina from Piraeus regularly: the crossing takes around 40 minutes.

94. Follow the Path of the Apostle Paul

Though not one of the twelve Apostles of Christ, Paul probably spread Christianity more effectively than any other. Much of his activity was concentrated in Northern Greece, particularly Corinth, where the famous letters to the Corinthians were written. The >a
href=”http://www.globusjourneys.com/tour/footsteps-of-apostle-paul-faith-based-travel/tp/”> path his office took him through ancient Greece is scattered with awe-inspiring monuments and beautiful islands, fascinating to Christians and non-Christians alike. From the Acropolis in Athens to Corinth, over Patmos, Crete and Santorini (and on some tours, Ephesus in Turkey), this route will delight any traveller.
Many tours are available, with differing durations, venues and prices, though generally commencing in Athens.

95. The Ghost Town of Vathia (Kalamata)

113 km southeast of Kalamata, on a hill dominating the surrounding terrain, lies the fortified ghost town of Vathia. Stone towers, turrets and chapels cling to the sparsely covered hillside, all deserted; it is an eerie and thought-provoking place, and one you will not forget. In spring, the hillside is covered with wild flowers, making the scene even more unforgettable.

Vathia is located on the Mani peninsula in the Laconia region of the Peloponnese. It is accessible by road from Kalamata in 2 ½ hours.

96. Monemvasia (Molaoi)

Monemvasia, nicknamed “The Gibraltar of the East” or more simply “The Rock”, is a monolith-like island and small town linked to the Peloponnese mainland by a 200m causeway. Its summit, 15 m high, is crisscrossed with ruins and is only accessible by countless steep steps, but the climb is worth it; beyond the gate, the old town, largely Byzantine and the church of Agia Sofia, plus the stupendous view, are ample reward.

Monemvasia is best reached by taking the bus from Athens to Kifissias (15 minutes) and then the bus to Monemvasia (around 6 hours, exit Molaoi).

97. Kardamyli (Kalamata)

Kardamyli was one of the seven towns offered by Agamemnon to Achilles in Homer’s Iliad, and was also the backdrop for the movie “Before Midnight”. A tiny, modest sea town nestling between the Messinian Gulf and the Taÿgetos Mountains, with excellent food at reasonable prices and gorgeous sunsets, Kardamyli also has the Vyros Gorge to its north which runs to the foothills of Mt. Profitis Ilias, both of which are immensely popular among hikers and rock climbers.

98. Achilleion (Corfu)

One of Corfu`s most resplendent treasures, the Achilleion was built between 1889 and 1891 on the orders of Empress Elisabeth of Austria (aka “Empress Sisi”) as a holiday palace. It was bought by Kaiser Wilhelm II after her death, and was used as a hospital by French and Serbian troops during WWI, only being handed over to the Greeks in 1919 as part of the Contract of Versailles. It enjoyed a brief period as a kindergarten and as a private museum, before attaining its present status as a tourist attraction.

The Achilleion is located at the town of Gastouri, 10km southwest of Corfu town.

99. Tourlitis Lighthouse (Andros)

For lovers of weirdly unique sights, the Tourlitis Lighthouse on a rock just offshore from Andros island is about as weird as they get. Built in 1897 and bombarded during WWII, with complete restoration in 1994 by a millionaire who gave it to his daughter, it perches atop a spindly outcrop of rock of just its own surface area, with curved steps carved into the rock at its base, like something out of “Lord of the Rings”.

Andros island, also famed for its Sariza spring at A Poika and the ancient capital of Palaepolis – parts of which can still be seen under water – is the northernmost of the Cyclades group, easily accessible by ferry from Piraeus in 6 ½ hours.

100. Korikion Andron Cave

Around a 20 minute drive from Arachova, high up in the pine forests, one suddenly chances upon the Korikion Andron cave. Supposedly the home of the God Panas and the Korikion nymphs, at an altitude of 1310 metres above sea level, it consists of three chambers with remarkable stalactites and stalagmites, ancient inscriptions in the entrance and a strange slab of hollowed rock (possibly a sacrificial altar) within its depths.

Afghans know the impact colour can have on life,” says Abdul Waheed, a 21-year-old clerk at the Afghan Parliament and resident of one of the thousands of mud-brown houses that blanket the mountains surrounding Kabul. Or, rather, the houses that were mud-brown – Waheed’s home, and the others behind him, are now painted in joyful pinks, blues and whites, as part of a new initiative to brighten Afghanistan’s capital.

It isn’t easy to climb up to the houses located on the mountain tops. There’s no road; there’s barely even a path, and every step is a gamble. Open sewage flows down the rocky slopes; you have to find firm ground with every step upwards. Yet small children and older men and women who have been living in these hills for ages navigate easily as they carry water back to their houses for daily use.

Residents opted for a bright palette that didn’t remind them of bloodshed (Ruchi Kumar)

Despite extreme adversity, the Afghan affinity for colour has always been visible in the form of small decorations, colourful doors and hand-painted flower pots outside nearly every mud house. Now, the Kabul city administration has taken this aesthetic and run with it, launching a project to paint the exteriors of nearly 2000 houses on the western-facing hills of Kabul.

After the fall of the Taliban in 2001, Kabul grew fast. Migrant workers and their families moved to the capital to make a decent living, the post-conflict economy mushrooming and bolstered by foreign aid. Refugees returned after years of war, and new homes were erected across the city. Those with fewer resources built their homes on the slopes of the mountains that fence the city, often without necessary city permits. Occupied by the poorest of the poor, a more resilient form of shanty town, they’re a stark contrast with the fifth fastest-growing city in the world.

Though it’s being executed by the Kabul Municipal Authority, the plan is the brainchild of the Capital Regional Independent Development Authority, set up by President Ashraf Ghani himself. As well as the painted houses, it will see infrastructure improvements including electricity, water resources and paved streets.

But the project, which launched last month, goes beyond providing basic services, as the colour-popping houses make clear. So far, several hundred homes in the neighbourhood of Asmayee Road are sporting bright paint jobs, transforming the previously brown landscape. The blue and pink shades were chosen by the residents themselves – other colours (including yellow, orange and red) were on offer, but residents refused shades that reminded them of bloodshed.

The roads are steep and treacherous in the mountain settlements, but the project aims to improve services (Ruchi Kumar)

The palette was put together by the city authorities not just to represent peace, but also to improve mental health.

Dr Rohullah Amin, a Kabul-based psychologist, thinks the project has a lot of potential. “For years, Kabul had sunk under depression and tragedy, and as a result, the colours associated with the people also represented tragedy,” he tells The Independent. It’s down to the city’s recent turbulent history, he says, that even the locals’ clothing has developed into “an unspoken diktat of grey for men and black for women.

“This has created an environment of colours that praise tragedy, affecting how people perceive their surroundings and thereby affecting their attitude towards each other,” he says. “But with the use of bright colours, we can manipulate their perceptions and improve how they treat each other, too. Of course there will still be bloodshed and poverty, but being in a pleasing, calming environment will change the way they respond to the situation. In a place like Kabul, where there is so much insecurity, how the citizens perceive their surroundings really matters”.

The project has gone so well already that a second phase of painting – this time covering 4,000 houses – is already under discussion. The aim is to transform the city within a year, says spokesperson to the Kabul Municipal Office, Jalil Sultani. “The idea was to create a peace and welfare programme that connects with people of Kabul who have suffered so much in the recent years.”

What it’s like to be a tour guide in Afghanistan

Similar projects have been implemented around the world with notable success in changing not only the exteriors of the city but also the vibe. There was a significant uptick in mental health amongst the young of Santa Marta, one of Rio de Janeiro’s favelas, when a similar campaign was launched. Another village — Kampung Pelangi in Indonesia — has become an Instagram sensation with its transformation into a ‘Rainbow Village’. And Port-au-Prince painted houses in Jalousie, a shanty town, to improve morale and spruce up the neighbourhood in the wake of the 2010 earthquake.

Not that Kabul is playing copy-cat – neither Sultani or Waheed had heard of the projects in Brazil or Indonesia, they told The Independent. And they don’t want to transform Kabul into an Instagram draw, they say; this project is purely for the mental health of the residents. “Bright colours play a very important role in the art, culture and architecture of Afghanistan,” says Sultani.

And the residents agree. Standing outside his home – we met him walking through the houses – Waheed says that in just a few weeks, the painted houses have brought a sense of beauty and calm to an otherwise conflict-prone area. “In our culture, we have often used colours effectively to improve the mental wellness of our people,” he says. ​“Kabul is already a very historic city with lots of old art and architecture. This initiative will help enhance its beauty, and change its reputation of a war zone.”

Dr Amin agrees. People’s psychological state influences their choice of colours, he says – and “the fact that people are choosing pink and white, colours strongly associated with the feminine, really makes me happy.“ Today, despite its recent tragedies, Kabul is looking a little brighter.

Timothy Nunan’s Humanitarian Invasion: Global Development in Cold War Afghanistan is an insightful and lucid account of contemporary Afghanistan.

This is a magisterial undertaking that belongs to a new genre – a book on development, steeped in history, and embellished with insights on contemporary regional and global politics. It is easy to find excellent, first-hand battlefield accounts on Afghanistan and readable memoirs of journalists and diplomats who have lived there, but few great, scholarly accounts exist that can explain why the country should still be unravelling after decades of ‘humanitarian’ intervention. Timothy Nunan’s work is a compulsory reference point for any student of history or geo-strategy seeking knowledge about an important part of the world straddling Iran, Central Asia, Transoxiana, China and South Asia.

A scholar at the Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies, Nunan deconstructs what he describes as Afghanistan’s ‘development moment’, combining academic rigour with felicitous prose. This original rendering provides a cogent narrative of how the Cold War progressively transformed the country into “a hothouse of modernisation,” and made it “a crucible” where development theology from the two sides of the Iron Curtain competed against each other.

Afghan elites inventively used the Cold War, contends Nunan, to finance “their own visions of renewal,” conscious of limitations on their ability to raise finances internally. At the high point of this process, Kabul was teeming with American and Soviet financial and trade advisers, and Afghanistan’s south with American hydrologists, its north with Soviet petroleum engineers, and its east with German foresters. There were teams of activists seeking “to ‘rescue’ Afghan women from barbarism;” he writes, “of agronomists who wanted to make cedar forests bloom; of economists and statisticians who wanted to make the state as legible as a spreadsheet.” This did not happen. Instead, political cataclysms spun Afghans into a relentless forty-year vortex of violence. A comparable experiment tried in the post-Taliban years has similarly begun to founder.

Nunan writes with passion and lucidity about the men and women, both Afghan and foreign, who worked with dedication – unmindful of the frailty of their efforts and, perhaps even the futility of their sacrifice – and ignoring the harshness of partisan interests that subverted their social vocation. In the process, the country became an arena of economic experimentation and social engineering, where aid agencies and their workers contested against each other to reshape Afghanistan in their own national image, seeking to prove the success of their respective models of development. At the core of it lay, in Nunan’s words, “two new projects of world making,” between which the Afghans were trapped. This competition eventually turned into a conflict that was emblematic of the Cold War divide, embroiling Afghanistan in incessant wars until this day.

The insightful account of contemporary Afghanistan is enriched by Nunan’s staggering appetite for digging and detail. He has stitched into his narrative nuggets of information sifted from archival records in Afghanistan, Germany, Kyrgyz Republic, Russia, Tajikistan and the US, as also the dairies, meeting notes, private papers, and manuscripts of public servants, advisors, consultants, contractors and NGOs, and interviews with many of them.

The English, with their imperial calculus, had hived off Afghan territories between Attock and the Indus, enclosing the Afghans beyond the Durand Line in a cartography designed to enforce internal emasculation and external control. Foreclosed as a buffer between the expanding British and Czarist empires, Afghans were contained within a sanitised zone, within which they were forced to live on the margins of survival, lest they became too strong to trouble their imperial neighbours.

As the inheritors of British India’s western borders, Pakistan’s elite atavistically applied the colonial policy – in preference to a fraternal embrace of peoples with whom they shared the closest imaginable ethnic, religious, and cultural ties (former Afghan President Hamid Karzai described the two nations as “conjoined twins”).

Post 1947, with the British gone, Afghanistan rejected Pakistan’s borders claims. In return, Pakistan “turned an iron cage into a house of sand,” writes Nunan, constraining Afghans even more than the British ever did, punishing them with blockades for aspiring to unite with their brethren and dreaming about Pashtunistan. This cut off Afghanistan’s traditional connectivity with the Indian subcontinent, disrupting its vital role as the crossroads between Iran, Central Asia, and India, without which it cannot sustain itself economically.

Instead of intimidating Afghans into submission, Pakistan’s hostile actions had the opposite effect. A 1955 Afghan Loya Jirgah declared that “it does not in any way regard the areas of Pashtunistan as part of the territory of Pakistan, unless and until the people of Pashtunistan desire it and consent thereto.”

Timothy NunanHumanitarian Invasion: Global Development in Cold War Afghanistan
Cambridge University Press, 2016

Meanwhile, the differentiated treatment of Pakistan and Afghanistan by the US in the 1950s, prompted by British advice, set the pattern for regional security practices for the next half century and more. It resulted in one country being invited into military alliances targeted against the Soviet Union, eventually being designated a major non-NATO ally and provided modern weaponry, while the other was denied these. The practice that started with John Foster Dulles, got entrenched. “No one has occupied the White House,” claimed the then US President Richard Nixon in 1970, “who is friendlier to Pakistan than me.” That was about the time US funding for Afghanistan began to slow. When its request for US weapons was rebuffed, it was forced to turn to the Soviet Union for military training and supplies, which created the cadres for Kabul’s successive communist governments.

Afghanistan threatened Pakistan, suggests Nunan, by its quest for Pashtunistan, and the challenge it posed to the Durand Line. India, meanwhile, “invaded” East Pakistan, he writes, forcing the surrender of 93,000 Pakistani soldiers “in the largest capitulation since World War II.” Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto believed Pakistan faced an overwhelming threat from India and Afghanistan, both supported by the Soviet Union. “After the 1971 War cleaved Pakistan in two,” continues Nunan, Islamabad saw a compliant regime in Kabul “as a core national security interest,” – its strategic objective was, therefore, “to demobilise the Afghan state as a vehicle for Pashtun self-determination.” He elaborates Islamabad’s logic in the following words:

“Just as Punjabi generals had successfully orchestrated a junior role for high caste Pashtuns in their domination of the Pakistani state, now too, Afghan Ghilzai Pashtuns would take on a secondary junior role in an inverted Durrani Empire: ruled from the Punjab, not Qandahar; by Punjabis and Ghilzai Islamists, not Durrani nationalists.”

Pakistan’s leaders convinced themselves that Afghanistan’s threat could be disabled only by extinguishing its sovereignty.

That moment finally came with the installation of Emir-ul Momineen, Mullah Omar, in Kandahar. The US deputy chief of mission in Islamabad cabled the assistant secretary of state, Robin Raphel, that a Taliban government in Kabul “would be as good as it can get in Afghanistan.” Jalaluddin Haqqani, a particular favourite of the Pakistan Army, also cited by Nunan, elaborated further: “On Pakistan’s eastern border is India – Pakistan’s perennial enemy. With the Taliban government in Afghanistan, Pakistan has an unbeatable two-thousand-three-hundred-kilometre strategic depth.”

Pakistani leaders have long insinuated that the irredentist Afghan claim negating the Durand Line is what creates the animus between their two countries. Nunan quotes from the P.N. Haksar papers at the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library that India’s Ambassador to the Soviet Union, D.P. Dhar, wrote to the foreign secretary, T.N. Kaul, suggesting that Kabul help the oppressed East Bengalis materially “by reviving their vocal interest in the Pakhtoon movement.” Nunan contends that Moscow later leaned on King Zahir Shah not to accede to his generals’ request to take Peshawar in 1971.

Afghan and Indian policy makers might have flirted with – but never put into practice – mutually supportive action against Pakistan. Pakistan’s political elite exaggerates this threat out of all proportion, to justify its implacable hostility towards Afghanistan, with which it has been engaged in an undeclared conflict since 1947. That is why it is safe to surmise that Afghanistan’s acceptance of the Durand Line cannot guarantee good relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Rather, the Durand Line can only be accepted by Afghans as a function of improved Afghan-Pakistan relations, not the other way around.

After beginning with the Cold War competition between two distinct ‘humanitarian’ projects, Nunan’s account covers the uncamouflaged confrontation between the US and the Soviet Union, when their war of manoeuvre in Afghanistan became an armed war conducted through proxies. Nunan is, curiously, circumspect about spelling this out upfront. He prefers, instead, to elliptically describe the battle being waged as a “clash of territorial empire with post-territorial ‘non-governmentality’,” placing the Soviet Union and the humanitarian NGOs, and not the two super powers, on the two sides of the divide.

In the non-kinetic phase of the contest, the competition was between the Cosmosol advisors helping the Soviet-backed PDPA regime and the Western humanitarian NGOs, led by the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA) and the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), who provided, in Nunan’s words, the “little platoons of humanity.” The SCA and the MSF were the largest among the transnational NGOs to challenge Soviet socialism in Afghanistan. Many of their cadres were “disillusioned ex-communists,” he adds, for whom “the cult of the guerrilla gave way to the religion of humanity” shorn of the ‘humanitarian’ baggage, however, this soon turned into a clash between states, grounded in their conflicting objectives. The military contest pitted the Soviet Union frontally against the US and Pakistan, both allied with Islamist forces already at loggerheads with the government of the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan.

The US-Pakistan enterprise was strongly supported by Saudi funds and Chinese weapons. The Mujahideen were mining and taxing the lapis lazuli mines in Sar-i-Sang to buy additional Chinese weapons through their Pakistani patrons. Besides helping the Mujahideen, China maintained its own links with revolutionaries in northern Afghanistan. Nunan quotes east German intelligence agencies reporting the presence of Chinese military trainers in Pakistani refugee camps, while China supplied Badakhshani Maoists weapons, “and – ironically – Chinese border guard uniforms to prepare for the announcement of an independent republic.”

The international NGO community sometimes wilfully, and mostly unwittingly, disregarded inconvenient political realities. Anders Fange of the SCA conceded upon reflection years later in an interview to Nunan that while vaguely aware of Pakistan’s interests in Afghanistan “we were not as aware as we should have been that Pakistan really wanted to establish a friendly client.”

Juliette Fournot of the MSF, in contrast, had a sobering encounter with reality well before she left Afghanistan. When an MSF convoy in Badakhshan was ambushed and its workers kidnapped in 1986, Fournot found that the Hizb-e-Islami fighters intended to ransom the French workers for Soviet weapons. When she met Guldbuddin Hekmatyar in Peshawar through his wife to get him to intercede with his fighters, they were joined by a rich Saudi, recognised by her as Osama Bin Laden. Nunan’s account is that Fournot went complaining to the lead USAID officer in Islamabad, Larry Crandal, criticising the unconditional American funding of Hekmatyar as ‘demented’. “Crandal dismissed Fournot as naïve, telling her to stick with medicine,” writes Nunan. “What began as a campaign against totalitarianism,” he adds, “enabled a quest to obliterate Afghan statehood.”

Afghanistan’s benefactors created not a blueprint of progress but an elaborate scheme for consulting and contracting that did not benefit Afghans as much as it should have, given the scale of the funding committed. Having failed in both combating terrorism and nation building, they have produced predictable excuses, often reminiscent of the prejudiced histories penned by the British after their bloody brush with the Afghans in the 19th century.

Following the Anglo-Afghan wars of the 19th century, Afghans were portrayed as corrupt, cantankerous, recalcitrant, duplicitous and bloodthirsty, and not amenable to any discipline. A century or so later, Fred Halliday (of New Left Review fame, who wrote with passion against the idea of a clash of civilizations), is quoted by Nunan as having spoken of Afghanistan as “an unspeakable country filled with sheepshaggers and smugglers”. He also quotes the journalist Alexander Cockburn describing the Mujahideen as “primitive Moslem tribesmen who make Khomeini look like a graduate student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.” There is, of course, no hint of Western condescension in Nunan’s rendering.

It is not just in damning Afghans that phantoms of the past cast their shadow on the present. There are other interesting parallels too between the post-Soviet and post-American interventions in Afghanistan. Nunan recalls Yuli Vorontsov, the former Russian Ambassador to Afghanistan, complaining that Soviet advisors “were everywhere, absolutely everywhere – it was the worst sort of colonial politics.” Exactly that happened when the US-led effort to stabilise the country peaked two decades later. A military surge was followed by a civilian surge, and then by a diplomatic one. Almost all the Afghan departments had multiple western advisors. The number of American and British foreign service officers located in Afghanistan by 2011 topped the total number of Indian foreign service officers then in harness globally!

Afghan women had their moments of equality, mostly before wars engulfed their country. Arab students attended the engineering and medical faculty of Kabul University, where Afghan women came to classes dressed in blouses and long skirts. But once Afghanistan lost its geopolitical relevance in the late 1980s, so in the 1990s, “the plight of the Afghan women aroused limited attention,” notes Nunan. In the 2000s again, US President George W. Bush and the First Lady, Laura Bush, espoused the liberation of Afghan women as a justification for the US and NATO presence in Afghanistan. These brave and hapless women might come to be sacrificed again by the votaries of an illusory peace based upon power sharing with the Taliban.

By 1986-87, the ground situation in Afghanistan had shifted fundamentally. The country had split into two, “the humanitarian landscape of frontiers and mountains, and the Soviet landscape of Kabul and the cities,” writes Nunan. He graphically describes how “a vertebrate of Soviet power” was “challenged by cells of ‘liberated areas’.” The situation is eerily similar now, with swathes of ungoverned territories in the hands of a resurgent Taliban, which receives continuing help from Pakistan.

As the Soviet project faced defeat, followed by the measured disintegration of Afghanistan, the Soviet correspondent, Igor Cherniak, argued that the time had come “when we had to let go.” The western media reacted exactly the same way when the US and International Security Assistance Force missions in Afghanistan began to stutter and stall – a moment foretold in US President Obama’s ‘exit strategy’, startlingly announced in the same breath as the decision to temporarily try to beat back the Taliban with a troops surge, about which Henry Kissinger famously quipped that it was all about exit, and had little to do with strategy.

Nunan writes with feeling about the exposed PDPA faithful, when dwindling Soviet support led to the unravelling of the PDPA regime. He quotes from the notes in the diary of an advisor of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Iuru Sal’nikov, about his Afghan partners – “men with slim chances not only of survival but also of an easy death.” The embattled Afghan security forces, facing the Taliban, Al Qaeda, and Daesh with minimal support, and without enablers and any prospect of medical evacuation, face a similar predicament today.

Afghanistan’s recent history also exemplifies the ineffectiveness of the UN, especially when great powers are at odds with each other. The United Nations Good Offices Mission (UNGOMAP) in Afghanistan and Pakistan was established following the Geneva Accords of April 1988. Its three principal tasks were to certify Soviet withdrawal, monitor the Afghanistan-Pakistan border – to ensure that there was no supply of arms to the combatants, and to oversee the return of refugees. Except for the first, UNGOMAP failed to carry out its mandate, and faded away without ceremony, leaving Afghanistan in ruins.

The Soviet Union’s withdrawal in February 1989 opened the doors to frontal Mujahideen attacks on Jalalabad and Kandahar, aided by the Pakistan army. The ISI Chief, Hamid Gul, Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto, and the US Ambassador to Pakistan, Robert Oakley, met together before the attacks were launched – Bhutto and Oakley were either party to the decision or acquiesced in it. Although the initial attacks were repulsed, the PDPA regime fell after Soviet Union’s collapse in the end of 1991, when Afghans were deprived of food, fuel, and firepower. By the spring of the next year, writes Nunan, “Afghanistan was a wreck.”

Karzai had once mentioned to me in early November 2009 that he had asked the visiting Swedish Foreign Minister, Carl Bildt, whether western countries were present in his country only to combat Al Qaeda, or whether they had an interest in the welfare of his countrymen. Bildt reassured Karzai that Europe was definitely there to help in rebuilding Afghanistan. Curious after this conversation, I queried several of my European homologues of the reason for their presence in the country. A few said they were there to atone for their opposition to, or half-hearted participation in, the invasion of Iraq. Many had a sense of obligation to the US, and some had genuine solidarity with Americans after 9/11. The majority, I felt, were there to show they mattered in global politics. Not to be present in the hottest global arena, fighting a ‘good’ war and contributing to a ‘just cause’ was not an option for most of them. The well-being of the Afghans might have been an important consideration too, but perhaps only as an after-thought.

Timothy Nunan. Credit: Twitter

Why has the US-led intervention faltered in Afghanistan? At one time, 150,000 well-armed foreign troops were deployed there, not just from NATO countries. The Congressional Research Service in 2015 put the direct cost of war to the US government alone at $686 billion. Other estimates put the figure closer to one trillion. In addition, US aid to Afghanistan was $108 billion, according to its special inspector general for Afghan reconstruction. This gigantic mission began to fail because its central purpose was never clearly defined, and because the war was fought inconsistently and in the wrong place. A former British Ambassador, Sherard Cowper-Coles, who has authored an honest account of his days in Kabul, rued to his colleagues about the collective western predicament in Afghanistan: “We are all helpers in an imperial, American adventure gone astray.”

Since Nunan’s objective is to dissect the Cold War conflict through the ‘humanitarian’ interventions in Afghanistan, Afghan voices are muted in the narrative, compared to those of the foreign actors. Unlike other western historians, however, Nunan comprehensively projects the Soviet Union’s point of view through the eyes of its advisers in the field, beyond the internal policy debates in Moscow. He makes a determined effort to go beyond the dynamic of great power conflict in telling his story. He describes how the dreams the advisers had for Afghanistan would eventually “spawn nightmares,” and how, by the early 1990s, an alliance of the Mujahideen and humanitarian NGOs “usurped” power from the Afghan state and the United Nations. They were able to do so, I believe, because of their being assisted by significant powers.

The failure to read this reality leads to a misjudgement of Russia’s potential regional role in the last section of the book. In its concluding, section, titled Afghan Pasts, Afghan Futures, he contends that as the major states pursue their “brutal scramble” for influence, “the only power capable of playing spoiler remains none other than Russia.” He then goes on to say, in his final words, that the Russian dreams of development and power “form an indelible part of Afghanistan’s past, but they have become our shared future.” Such a role attributed to Russia is somewhat off track, for the end state in Afghanistan will be determined, besides its internal dynamics, mainly by the actions of the US and Pakistan. If Afghanistan remains in disarray, it will be because of continuing support, sustenance, and sanctuary to the terrorists from Pakistan and not because of a renascent Russia.

This book convincingly demonstrates that the successive international ‘humanitarian’ interventions in Afghanistan have so far contributed to creating misery for its people, deepening the cleavages in its polity, and destroying state structures instead of stabilising them. Howsoever fraught the immediate prospects for Afghans, their sense of pride and nationhood, and their instinct for survival in adversity, might nevertheless help them stand on their feet and take their own decisions, if their friends and neighbours give them the support and space to do so. The development ventures in Afghanistan have been stalled, not ended. They must resume in earnest, but this time with Afghan public institutions taking the lead, in a project of the longue durée.

Jayant Prasad is Director of the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi. A retired Indian Foreign Service officer, he has served as Indian ambassador to Afghanistan.

]]>http://dawatmedia.com/afghanistan/the-travails-of-afghanistan-a-contemporary-history/feed/0Dubai, Doha tops Paris, Tokyo in list of expensive destinationshttp://dawatmedia.com/travel-tourism/dubai-doha-tops-paris-tokyo-in-list-of-expensive-destinations/
http://dawatmedia.com/travel-tourism/dubai-doha-tops-paris-tokyo-in-list-of-expensive-destinations/#respondTue, 25 Apr 2017 09:23:19 +0000http://dawatmedia.com/?p=570When it comes to a sightseeing tour around the city on a double decker bus, Dubai was the costliest. (AP)

The happa website has in an annual survey compiled the most expensive and cheapest holiday destinations in the world.

The year, the report covers a much wider range of destinations, analyzing a total of 84 places across the globe, compared to last year’s 46.

Included in the report this time are new features – like comparing the cost of beverages, a sightseeing bus pass and the cost of some of the most popular attractions.

While Zurich now takes the number one spot for most expensive destination at Dh. 782.78 (£170.43) per person for one night’s stay (including meals, drink and entertainment).

But those in the Gulf region will find it surprising that Dubai and Doha are respectively at number 13 and number 14 spots on the most expensive global destinations’ list just below London, but above cities like Paris, Tokyo, Las Vegas, Hong Kong or Sydney.

Doha and Dubai also figures in third and fifth spots respectively for the highest average price for a cup of coffee.

When it comes to a sightseeing tour around the city on a double decker bus – one of the favorite things to do on holiday – Dubai, according to the report, was the costliest at a whopping Dh 250.32 (£54.50) per person.

]]>http://dawatmedia.com/travel-tourism/dubai-doha-tops-paris-tokyo-in-list-of-expensive-destinations/feed/0Which are the five smartest cities in the world?http://dawatmedia.com/travel-tourism/which-are-the-five-smartest-cities-in-the-world/
http://dawatmedia.com/travel-tourism/which-are-the-five-smartest-cities-in-the-world/#respondFri, 10 Mar 2017 09:10:31 +0000http://dawatmedia.com/?p=183

Singapore deployed a massive amount of sensors and cameras around the city to analyze traffic congestion and crowd density. (Shutterstock)

Singapore, Barcelona, London, New York and London have ranked as the world’s smartest cities according to the latest Proximity.Directory report.

The Q4 2016 report has aggregated information from more than 370 Proximity Solution Providers in over 50 different countries and reveals the latest trends, facts, and figures from the global proximity technologies can benefit smart cities.

Between 2014 and 2016 the global smart city technology market increased with $3.3 billion, going from $8.8 billion to $12.1 billion. According to the report, 66 per cent of the world population will live in urban areas by 2050.

Singapore

Singapore deployed a massive amount of sensors and cameras around the city to analyze traffic congestion and crowd density, enabling government and officials to reroute buses at rush hours, avert traffic jams. They are able to predict how new buildings may affect wind patterns or communications signals.

Barcelona

Barcelona has installed wireless LED street lights to reduce energy usage, in addition to deploying a network of ground sensors to regulate irrigation relative to forecasted rainfall estimates and temperature.

NYC

New York City has implemented a high-speed broadband service for the entire city which will be completed by 2025, to facilitate monitoring data on air quality, traffic, and energy consumption.

London

London is using technology to help tackle congestion and make parking simpler. Government officials have opened up date to start-ups and projects to take advantage of it in building their projects.

San Francisco

San Francisco has implemented a smart parking system to monitor occupancy and can use this date for a dynamic parking system that adjusts the cost of parking based on whether spots are occupied or vacant.

It’s that time of year already – Valentine’s Day. Pull out all the stops this year and book one of the most romantic suites in the world.

Verona, Italy

The Affresco Suite in the Palazzo Victoria in Verona offers original Roman frescos, your own library and sumptuous historic quarters all centered around an ancient courtyard. Plus in Verona, they take romance to the next level – not only can you be serenaded on you balcony by a professional tenor you can also have a dark chocolate bath – yup – an entire bath full of dark chocolate to dip yourself into.

St Lucia, Caribbean

Head to Rock Maison at Cap Maison in St Lucia for al fresco private luxury that has to be seen to be believed. There’s a two story villa with four poster and outside Jacuzzi that has uninterrupted views of the Caribbean sure, but there’s a wooden pavilion perched on a cliff edge where Champagne is delivered by zip wire (so not to disturb any romantic conversations) and a natural rock pool, complete with stone carved ‘ice buckets’ to cool any drinks down while you’re enjoying a private dip.

Noonu atoll, Maldives

While the Maldives in general is all about romance, it can always be made more exclusive and luxurious. Book the Romantic Pool Villa at Velaa Private Island and the only way to get to it is by private speedboat. It’s just you (and a private butler) on an island in the Indian Ocean, but you have your own spa treatment room, infinity pool and beach to keep you amused. There’s also a nine golf hole course on a different island, and under the water, the resort has its own private submarine.

Okavango Delta, Botswana

Get away from it all at Feline Fields, which has one of the most relaxed, rustic and romantic safari suites going. With total seclusion you can indulge any ‘Out of Africa’ moments, have romantic meals out in bush on a private deck, cool off in your own infinity pool or have spa treatments in the open air, with nothing but the Kalahari breeze to bother you.

Yunnan, China

China might not be your first port of call on the romance front but Banyan Treen Liijang has upped the ante with the first spa-centric private villa. Book in here and all spa treatments are included and you can have as many as you want (try the warming Gui Shi Hot Stones massage where heated river stones are soothingly massaged over the body with sesame oil), with the majestic Jade Dragon Snow mountain as a backdrop. You’ll be pampered the moment you step foot on the luxurious low slung resort and romantic packages can be built in at every step of the way.

Marrakech, Morocco

Marrakech has captured the hearts of lovers everywhere for centuries and now it’s your turn. Fall in love with El Fenn, which comprises seven courtyard houses – complete with hanging roof gardens and a rooftop pool view the best views in town. Best of all for couples book into Room 19 for a private plunge pool with a glass bottom, an enviable modern art collection include ink studies by Antony Gormley and a stunning outdoor area. There’s plenty of places to curl up for romantic tete a tetes and long, languorous meals are encouraged.

]]>http://dawatmedia.com/travel-tourism/look-inside-the-worlds-most-romantic-suites-for-valentines-day/feed/0Oslo Makes the List of the Wolds Top Coastal and Beach Citieshttp://dawatmedia.com/travel-tourism/oslo-makes-the-list-of-the-wolds-top-coastal-and-beach-cities/
http://dawatmedia.com/travel-tourism/oslo-makes-the-list-of-the-wolds-top-coastal-and-beach-cities/#respondMon, 06 Mar 2017 21:19:19 +0000http://dawatmedia.com/?p=72June 10,Oslo: Many of the world’s greatest cities have an abundance of waterfront property is appealing to both local residents and travelers alike. Oslo is no different in this regard, boasting a large southern coast line with an abundant access to pristine waterfront property.

The city Oslo has been named as one of the greatest coastal cities in the world in a comprehensive rankings list recently developed by Chicago Line Cruises. They ranked the top 25 greatest coastal and beach cities in the world based on the following criteria:

• Mercer Quality of Life Ranking- Mercer is a global HR consulting firm that ranks cities worldwide based on political, economic, environmental, health, education and transportation factors.
• Euromonitor Ranking- Rankings based on tourist traffic
• Numbeo Basket of Goods- Numbeo is the world’s largest crowdsourced databased that quantifies dozens of living conditions metrics.

The rankings are based on their own proprietary formula that was based on considerations for both residents and tourists. Each of the cities listed have some interesting facts to accompany their ranking that focus on everything from arts, culture, recreational characteristics, architectures and other “wild card” tidbits.

Oslo ended up ranking 17th on the list of 25 with a mercer ranking in the top 30th worldwide. Olso was praised in the rankings for the Viking ship museum as well for having a strong independent music scene. Over 20% of all Norwegians attend at least one music festival each year. The seasonal restaurant Maeermno also received high praise as it was ranked #29th on the Elite Traveler’s Best Restaurants list. The citywide green spaces that define Oslo including Fronger Park and its famous sculpture gardens were also noted in the rankings.

The top 10 citied feature some notable cities worldwide. Rounding out the top 10 coastal cities are Auckland, Barcelona, Vancouver, Copenhagen, Singapore, Chicago, Sydney, San Francisco, Toyko, and New York City. To see the completely rankings, check out the full list and graphic below.